Majestic, huge, mammoth, gigantic are some of the terms that come to our mind when we think about mountains. Though we love the snow engulfed peaks for their amazing backdrop that adds splendor to our pictures and gets us unlimited likes and comments, we must not forget that these mighty mountains are equally dangerous.
If you are a keen mountaineer who loves trekking and exploring, you will be aware of how and what goes into a successful return. Accidents, snow storms, avalanches, unpredictable weather and no help (almost) make it a challenging task to brace the beauty of mountains in an intimate manner. You might have a few successful/unsuccessful treks to boast for but here are some of the world's most extreme mountains that are rated among the most dangerous ones to climb. These colossal natural creations command respect and you cannot fight them without the supreme power's intervention, however skilled you are.
1. Annapurna
Nobody dared to climb this 26,545 feet high mountain situated in central Nepal until 1950. More than 130 people have tried to put their foot on the summit of this gigantic mountain out of which 53 lost their life midway. Annapurna has one of the highest fatality rates. This giant is ranked as the 10th highest mountain in the world.
2. Mount K2
Standing tall and broad at a height of 28,251 feet, K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world. Situated on the border of Pakistan and China, K2 is arguably the most difficult of all the mammoth wonders when it comes to climbing. With ice pillars that can collapse without warning, complicated glaciers, steep rock sections, and inaccessibility, this mountain has a very nasty reputation among climbers.
3. Kanchenjunga
Third highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga lies on the border of India and Nepal. With a height of 28,169 feet, this majestic mountain has one of the highest mortality rates. Prone to avalanches and weather hazards, it is not easy to reach the summit that has an almost vertical 1,000 feet climb towards the peak. It is one of the deadliest mountains in the world.
4. Mount Everest
Take a bow as we now set our foot on the highest mountain in the world. Resting comfortably on the border of Nepal and China, Mount Everest is 29,029 feet high and as expected, poses a number of challenges for the climbers who wish to summit. If the altitude was not enough to scare the strongest, the biting cold weather is a strong deterrent. Nevertheless, this highly respected giant has witnessed more than 1500 climbers till date out of which 50 have made it to the summit in a single day.
5. Nanga Parbat
Having claimed at least 31 lives till date, Nanga Parbat has been nick named 'The Man Eater' for the kind of danger it poses for the climbers. It is the ninth highest mountain in the world with a height of 26,657 feet, situated in Northern Pakistan. This monster is a mammoth ridge of rock and ice. Its southern side has the tallest mountain face in the world.
6. Mount Eiger
Posing innumerable challenges to the mountaineers, the north face of Mount Eiger in the Swiss Alps has been nicknamed as Mordwand or 'Murder Wall'. Technical difficulties coupled with heavy rockfall is what makes this mountain an extremely difficult one to explore.
7. Mount Matterhorn
Resembling a horn like structure, Matterhorn lies on the border between Switzerland and Italy. With a height of 14,691 feet, this mountain is not as tall as its counterparts but it poses quite a few challenges for mountaineers who plan to summit. Overeager novice climbers during peak climbing season tend to send loose rocks falling down on their fellow climbers that can be quite dangerous. To add to it are the avalanches, rockfall and harsh weather that have secured it a place in our list of most extreme mountains.
8. Mount Denali
Rising as high as 20,320 feet, Mount Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is one of the most difficult mountains to climb. Situated in Alaska, this majestic beauty is prone to earthquakes and has extreme weather conditions. With a high altitude and extreme latitude, this mountain allows for altitude sickness to kick in much faster than its equally high peers.
9. Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre
These two peaks are situated right next to each other in the southern Andes and offer challenging climbs, thanks to their extremely vertical cliffs. It is relatively isolated and has an intense, unpredictable weather to add to its dangers.
10. Mount Blanc
Mount Blanc may not be among the most difficult mountains to climb but it is certainly a dangerous one. With a high altitude and tricky routes that are further challenging because of its common rock slides, Mount Blanc has a high fatality rate.
